A fire destroyed a barn and claimed three horses Thursday morning on Game Ridge Road.
Lieutenant Brian Williams of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department told WJLE that firefighters were called to the scene at 7:51 a.m. The owner of the barn is Billy Hendrixson but Jeffery Carter had it rented.
According to Lieutenant Williams, the cause of the fire is undetermined but it swept through the barn quickly and was well underway by the time firefighters arrived.
Three of the four horses inside the barn perished in the fire. The other horse was saved but suffered burns.
The barn and all other contents including hay and farm machinery were destroyed in the blaze.
Members of the Main Station, Short Mountain Highway Station, Blue Springs Station, and Tanker 1 responded along with DeKalb EMS and the deputies of the Sheriff’s Department.

A new Director of Schools is expected to be named in a couple of weeks.
During a workshop Tuesday evening, the Board of Education discussed procedures in selecting a new director.
According to Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III the school board will have another workshop on Thursday, July 9 at 5:30 p.m. followed by the regular monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m. to establish the length of the contract and other terms including the starting base salary of $85,000.
In the meantime, input will be sought from school faculty and staff and the public on questions to be asked of the three finalists during a board workshop on Tuesday, July 14. All three applicants are to be interviewed individually in one hour sessions starting at five p.m.
The School Board then plans to meet in a special session on Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. to name a new director.
The three finalists are DCHS Principal Patrick Cripps, Supervisor of Special Education Gina Arnold , and Michael James Steele, Executive Principal for Statford STEM High School. He is from Spring Hill, Tennessee

Members of the Smithville Police and Smithville Fire Departments recently attended explosive device training at New Mexico Tech. The program is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The training is designed for first responders who may respond to or become involved in incidents that involve explosive devices or improvised explosive devices. The training, all travel arrangements, lodging and meals were funded through FEMA and were at no cost to the City of Smithville. Members of the Algood Police Department also attended the training.
Pictured: Sgt. Brad Tatrow, Detective Brandon Donnell, Capt. Steven Leffew, Smithville fire Chief Charlie Parker and EMRTC instructors.

One day after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states cannot ban gay marriages, the DeKalb County Clerk’s Office issued the first license to a local same sex female couple.
“On Saturday morning the first couple came into the office and filled out the application. They completed the application process and obtained the marriage license. They were married over the weekend and returned their marriage license to us on Monday,” County Clerk James L (Jimmy) Poss told WJLE Tuesday.
Although only one license has been issued so far to a same sex couple, Poss said there have been other inquiries about the process for obtaining a license. “Once the ruling came down on Friday morning we got our first call and by the end of the day we had a total of three calls inquiring about same sex marriage. They were checking to see if our office was actually issuing the marriage license to same sex couples,” Poss said.
While the female couple did not request his office perform the marriage ceremony, Poss said he was asked on Saturday by another individual if he performed marriages for couples. “She was inquiring about how she could actually obtain a license and get married at the same place,” he said.
Poss announced upon taking office as county clerk last September that he would not perform marriage ceremonies. While state law gives county clerks the authority to marry couples, it is not mandated that they do so.
After Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the Tennessee Attorney General advised county clerks across the state that they may begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The University of Tennessee County Technical Advisory Service Institute for Public Service sent an email to all 95 county clerks Friday morning in the wake of the court’s historic ruling. “We have been advised by the Tennessee Attorney General that county clerks may begin issuing marriage licenses immediately under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling,” the CTAS message said.
Poss felt he had no choice but to comply with the ruling based upon the advice he was given since the U.S. Supreme Court has the final say in determining the laws of the land. “Both CTAS and Jay West, Executive Director of the County Officials Association sent emails and told us very early on after the ruling on Friday to begin issuing marriage licenses immediately, to not hold off for any reason,” said Poss.

The Community Chorus will make a return appearance during the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival Friday evening
With the theme “What the World Needs Now is Love”, the chorus will be performing a variety of patriotic songs with a special tribute to veterans, particularly disabled veterans. Again this year, adults and children alike will be singing in the chorus with some clogging as well.
“To open the program we’ll have a fanfare of American patriotic music. This is always a high time with the audience participating. Hopefully by that time there will have been one thousand flags passed out in the audience. The AmVets will be helping us with that and we truly appreciate their help. And another person in town anonymously gave a thousand flags,” Faye Fuqua, Chorus Director told WJLE Monday.
“A real important part of the program is recognizing and paying tribute to veterans. There may be service men who are still serving (in the crowd). This year we’re going to include (in the tribute) a recognition of those who are disabled. There will be something really special coming at that time so we encourage all veterans to come out and help us celebrate you,” said Fuqua.
The program begins at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday from the Jamboree stage. You can also catch a rehearsal performance on Thursday evening on the steps of city hall at around 5:30 p.m.

Your property taxes will be going up this fall if the county commission adopts a recommendation by the budget committee.
In a meeting Tuesday night, members of the budget committee voted to recommend passage of a new $40.9 million budget for the 2015-16 year and a tax rate of $1.78 cents per $100 of assessed value. That’s a sixteen cent increase from the current rate of $1.62.
The proposed new rate breaks down as follows:
County General Fund: 94 cents (a 12 cent increase)
General Purpose Schools: 57 cents ( a 2 cent increase)
Debt Service: 12 cents
County Highway Department: 4 cents ( a 1 cent increase)
Capital Projects Fund: 11 cents ( a 1 cent increase)
The last time the county commission raised taxes was in 2011 when a ten cent hike was imposed with five cents of the increase going to schools and the other nickel to help fund the county general budget.
Steve Bates, the county’s financial advisor, said the increase is needed because county revenues in recent years have not kept pace with inflation. “There’s not really any expenditures that are above last year. It’s just inflation. It’s just that the cost of government has increased and revenues haven’t been able to keep up. We have been budgeting on a budgetary basis going into cash (fund balance) and although we haven’t been expecting to go into cash that deep, we have been going into cash (using reserves). All we want to try to do is head that off so we can maintain our good fund balances that we have now,” Bates told WJLE
“During 2009 and 2010 property assessments did not grow because of this housing and financial crisis so while the cost of government was growing, assessments were declining. We were actually going backwards. And to further that, we were earning 2% and 3% on fund balances. Now we’re earning .2% so that’s another tax cut. As recent as three years ago, the county earned $360,000. This year we have budgeted $150,000 and I just hope we get that, “Bates added.
All five members of the budget committee voted to recommend the new budget and tax rate for approval to the county commission. Members of the committee are Chairman Wayne Cantrell and Larry Summers, Jack Barton, Jimmy Midgett, and Jerry Adcock.
County Mayor Tim Stribling said copies of the proposed budget will be made available to all members of the county commission during an all-committees meeting on Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse. As required by law, a public notice will be published on Wednesday, July 15 in the newspaper. A public hearing will then be scheduled on Monday, July 27 at 5:30 p.m. followed by the regular monthly meeting of the county commission at which time the new budget and tax rate will be considered for passage. The meeting and public hearing will be held in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.
Two other issues were addressed during Tuesday night’s meeting. The committee voted to use $25,000 from the capital projects fund as “seed” money for future development of a new fire station in the Four Seasons community.
Meanwhile, whether the county will match the city’s $75,000 allocation of funds for the development of a new animal shelter will be left up to the entire 14 member county commission. Budget committee member Jack Barton initially made a motion to include the money in the budget, but only as a one time contribution. The committee sided with Barton on a vote of 3-1-1. But later during the meeting, committee members had a change of heart and the action was rescinded. While funds for the animal shelter will not be included in the proposed budget, Barton said he will ask that the county commission give it an up or down vote as only a one time contribution after the new budget is adopted. “I feel they (DeKalb Animal Coalition) are due an answer. Since the city has put it out there on the table, I want us as a body to give them an answer up or down,” said Barton. Chairman Cantrell moved that the budget and tax rate of $1.78 be adopted and to address the animal shelter issue after the budget is passed. Cantrell’s motion was approved unanimously.

A DeKalb County man is expected to be sent back to Michigan where he is wanted for being a fugitive from justice.
46 year old David Duane Brewer of Corinth Church Road, Smithville is under a $200,000 bond. He made his first court appearance on Thursday, June 25 where he signed his waiver of extradition and he will be in court July 16 if Michigan authorities have not picked him up. According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, a detective ran an NCIC computer check on Brewer Wednesday, June 24 which revealed he is wanted in Livingston, Michigan where he is facing charges of larceny over $20,000 and two counts of unlawful driving away.
21 year old Dusty Ray Mathis of Lanis Road, Baxter is charged with two counts of vandalism and one count of criminal trespassing. His bond is $4,500 and he will make a court appearance on July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, June 20 in order to gain entry to property on Austin Bottom Road, Mathis knowingly drove through a field, garden and two galvanized gates in his 1997 Dodge pickup truck causing a total of $300 in damage. Mathis did not have the owner’s consent to be on the property. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
37 year old Jessie Eugene Thomas and 32 year old Terra Elaine Locklear both of Dale Ridge Road, Dowelltown are each charged with aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000. Thomas is also charged with vandalism. Bond for Thomas is $11,500. Locklear’s bond is $10,000. They will make a court appearance on July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, June 23 Thomas and Locklear broke into a residence on Dale Ridge Road and took several tools and building materials with a total value of $1,190. During the burglary, Thomas also broke out a window valued at $425. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective. Thomas and Locklear were arrested on Friday, June 26.
35 year old Roger Curtis Gregory of South Main Street, Carthage is charged with leaving the scene of an accident. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on April 28, Gregory was operating a 2004 Nissan Maxima east on Hickman Road at Temperance Hall when the car went off the left side of the roadway, hitting a fence and trees causing damage. After the crash, Gregory drove away from the scene without notifying the owner of the fence or the sheriff’s department about the wreck. When confronted by a deputy later, Gregory admitted to being involved in an accident and that he failed to stop. Gregory was arrested on June 27.
23 year old Nathaniel Dylan Tippens of Redman Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property under $500. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, June 26 Tippens, an inmate at the jail, took forty six Ranitidine (stomach) pills and nineteen Ibuprofen pills from an office in the annex. “Tippens was an inmate in the jail annex. Due to a plumbing problem all the annex inmates were moved into a hallway. While in the hallway, Tippens gained entry to an office by way of a pass through door. He pried open the door, got into the office and took the pills. He later admitted to taking the pills and they were returned to the correctional officers,” said Sheriff Ray. In an effort to keep such a thing from happening again, extra locks and hasps have been added to the door.
32 year old Henry Burt Turner, Jr. of Liberty is charged with aggravated burglary, theft of property under $500, and violation of an order of protection. He is under a $10,000 bond and will be in court July 23. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, June 11 a sheriff’s department deputy observed Turner and a woman together in her car on the public square in Smithville. Knowing that the woman has an order of protection against Turner, the officer approached the vehicle and spoke with the woman. After confirming that the order of protection was still active, the deputy obtained a warrant for Turner’s arrest. Meanwhile, according to Sheriff Ray Turner broke into a residence on Old Sligo Road May 19 causing $900 in damage to the home and took a blue Rhino propane tank and a Stanley fubar tool valued at $100. Turner was arrested for the burglary and theft on June 28 after being in custody in Rutherford County for a separate offense. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
26 year old Matthew Tyler Hale of Upper Helton Road, Alexandria is charged with driving on a suspended license. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, June 28 a deputy spotted Hale operating a motor vehicle traveling north on Main Street in Liberty. He also observed Hale swap seats with a passenger while the vehicle was still in motion. Knowing that Hale had a suspended license, the officer made a traffic stop. Hale was previously cited for driving on a suspended license on June 21, 2015. His license were suspended on February 12, 2015 for failure to provide insurance.
41 year old John Allen (J.J.) Judkins is charged with burglary and theft over $500. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court July 16. Sheriff Ray said that on May 27 Judkins entered a barn on the Old Keltonburg Road and took several 2 x 10 sheets of tin off the side of the barn and took an area of fence valued at more than $500. The case was investigated by a criminal detective of the Sheriff’s Department.

The Picking Friends band will be performing a free concert in downtown Smithville on Thursday, July 2nd. The music will begin at 7:00 PM on the open-air stage located at the Joe L. and Ann S. Evins Park, across from the Smithville Post Office and Justin Potter Library. Picking Friends is a 5-member band comprised of talented musicians who love to perform a mix of traditional and gospel bluegrass. Band members Brian Anderson and Glenn Carpenter are from Watertown, TN and Shawn Frick, John Mason, and Glenn Moats are from Lebanon, TN. Picking Friends has performed all across the middle Tennessee area and into Virginia.
In addition, Smithville Sugar Squares and DeKalb Dancin’ Delights dance teams will also be performing that night. Smithville Sugar Squares dancers include Tess Barton, Katherine Gassaway, Kathryn Hale, Emma Jennings, Madelyn Johnson, Summer Morse, Elizabeth Seber, and Lillie Grace Young, DeKalb Dancin’ Delights dancers are Ellie Cripps, Annabella Dakas, Kaitlin Hutchins, Kristen Hutchins, Katherine Knowles, Preston Summers, Sadie West, and Shelby West. Their teacher is Mary Ann Puckett.
So, bring your own lawn chair and enjoy a fun evening of music and dancing! The perfect way to get in the Jamboree mood!
Pictured l-r:
Brian Anderson, Glenn Carpenter, Shawn Frick, John Mason, Glenn Moats